Tractor.



-D. M. HAR-TSOUGH. TRACTOR APPLICATION FILED SEPT.29 1913 1,128,246. Patented Feb.9,1915.

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D. M. HARTSOUGH.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED sBPT.29,1913.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915. 5 SHEBTsfsHEET 2.

` D. M. HARTSOUGH. TRACTOR.-

APPLIGATION FILED SBPT.29, 1913- Ll 28,246. Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

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DQM. HARTSOUGH. TRACTOR,

. APIIQIOATION FILED $521.29, 1913. l 1,128,246. Patented-F9119, 1915.

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'Of' A B9 m6 Hiivrneg@ 'UMTED sTaTas PATENT onirica,

D MAURICE HARTSOUG-H, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR T0 BULL TRACTOR. COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F MINNESOTA.

TRACTOR. y

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led September 29, 1913. Serial No. 792,275.

T0 all whom it may concern .Be it known that I, D MAURICE HART. soucier, a citizen of the United States, re'

vented certain new and useful Improve ments in Tractors; and I do hereby declare lthe following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and luse the same.

Particularly, my 'present invention has for its object the provision of a small tractor of vextremely simple construction, small cost and high efficiency, and to such ends, v

generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the agricultural industry there is a Agreat and constantly increasing demand for tractors or traction engines as a substitute for horses, to draw plows and various other agricultural implements and vehicles. This demand has been met to some extent by very large and very powerful tractors necessarily sold at a high price, and for this reason, put out of the reach of thousands of farmers having small farms and limited means.

While my improved tractor has been designed especially to 'meet the very great demand for a small and 'eilicient tractor of small cost, found especially on small farms,

' I have had in mind that even for use on the large or Igreater farms, a given amount lof money invested in properly designed smaller tractors, would result in greater eliiciency than when expended on very large powerful and expensive tractors. I have also observed that one serious objection to the use of very heavy tractors in plowingv and cultivating, and various other uses, and especially when used on.

moist or wet ground,` is that their wheels leave large and very solidly packed tracks 5which, when they become dry, are so hard that they cannot be cultivated without breaking and pulverizing, which is an operation n ot easily accomplished. Moreover, on a good many kinds of soft soil, very heavy tractors cannot be used at all, whereas, a comparatively light tractor would work satisfactorily. Most attempts made t0 reduce the size and cost of these tractors havebeen by waylof a simple reduction of I scale o r dimensions thereof, with little or no change in the general principle of construc- Pateneed Feb. 9, 1915. I

tion, and such attempts have failed because simple; reduction in size Without material reduction in numbers of parts, does not much reduce the cost.

In the preliininaries'V of working out my improved simplified tractor, I' started with the observation that the number of parts in the tractor *must be reduced to a minimum. I therefore, determined that thev truck of the tractor should have three .wheels; that one of these wheels, only,

should be used as a traction wheel; that as much as possible of the load should be carried on this one tractor; that a compensating or differential gear mechanism necessarily employed with two traction wheels, could be dispensed with in driving the single traction wheel; that of the three wheels of the truck, one thereof, should be located in front of the other two and used as a steering wheel; and that by lacing this single front wheel directly inv ront of the traction wheel, it could be caused to run vin the same furrow with the vtraction wheel in plowing, Aand hence, by the proper connections, it could bc used notv only as a steering wheel in the ordinary sense, but' as an 'automatically acting guide wheel adapted to follow the furrow in plowing, and hence, to automatically guide the trac- ,tor by the furrow made on a previous trip is much more dicult to cause the wheels' to avoid an obstruction than when only two tracks are made. In working out these sevv` eral primary features, I'made various other important inventions. For instance, I provided means for raising and lowering the laterally offset rear wheel of the truck, in respect to the traction wheel, so 'that the tractor will be run in the level or true position, both when traveling on a road or over a eld and when the ,traction wheel and like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings: Figure l is a left side elevation of the improved tractor; Fig. 2: is a right, side elevation of the tractor,

.sonic parts being broken away; Fig, 3 is a plan. view of the tractor, some parts being sectioned; Fig. et is a rear elevation of the tractor; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing in detail a portion of the tractor frame and partly illustrating a reversing device in the power transmission mechanism between the engine and traction wheel, the said parts being viewed in a direction from the left toward the right; and Fig. 7 shows the parts illustrated in Fig. 6, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section.

The framework of the tractor truck, indicated as an .entirety bythe numeral l, is -preferably a skeleton structure made up of channel beains, or other suitable forni or coinmercialrolled steel. Ithe single traction wheel 2 is, shown, placed at the right hand side of this frame, between longitudinal hars thereof, and its axle 3 lis journaled in suitable bearings l, rigidly secured on the adjacent longitudinal bars of the said trarne.

'll-he frame l preferably extends at the rear oli the traction wheel only far enough to allord the desired clearance, but the said traine extended on its right hand` side, to

apoint considerably ahead or the traction wheel, and its forwardly projecting portion is converged a point at the extreme right hand side of the said frame, so that the right hand side 'of the said traine isy maintained straight while the left hand side of the traine is formed with a sort of a lateral bulge at its intermediate portion.

An idle laterally odset rear wheel 5 is journaled on the crank end 6 of a crank axle 7 that is ournaled inl suitable bearings 8, as shown, secured to the underside of the'inain frame l. By oscillations of this crank axle 7, the wheel 5 may he raised and lowered in respect to the traction wheel 2; and in order N 'that this oscillation of the said crank axle may be accom lishedby means of a lever, it

is provided with a depending crank arm 9 located near its inner end. ,This arm 9 is connected by a link 10 and to the lower end -worm 19 secured on the front en.

messes axle lil secured by the lower end ot :i ver tical spindle .i5 journaled in a heavy sleeve like bearing lli rigidly secured to the converged liront end ot the traine l.. "ihr wheel i3 is thus mounted so that it .lice rotate and may be ren its angular or s ing movements by '.iscillation ci the spine. *l l5. lret'eiably2,t` the trunnion lll is righi1 but adjiistably secured to the lower end the spindle lo by interlocked hiibs on the said ineiubers that are clamped together l f a suitable bolt i7. lly adjustments ci" connection, the guide wheel. may be set that will incline in the one direction or other, or may he set in a tr ue vert tion, as found desirable to best at i'ollow a iurrow.

il worm gear lll is secured to the iipoer end of the wheel spindle l5 and eng liointed or- 'llexible steering rod 20, whif i. its rear end, has a suitable hand piece lv as in the forni ot' a wheel located i easy reach et' an oper-titer seated en operator/"s seat 22. lreiterably, the i gear 18 is inclined in a gear casing i loosely surrounds the saine and is ancl" against rotation by an anchor strap cured to the 'traine l. This gear casir L, 'affords a suitable support and. journal for the extreme iront end olf the steering ro l The said steering rod is also journa suitable bearings 25 and that rise the frame l. As a desirable feature, what however, constitutes no part ot the presenU invention, the wheel spindle l5 is pro` 'f with an upwardly extended reduced po 15a to the upper end of which is attacfiir ligure X', that serves as a pointer to iin cate the direction in which the guide wheel 13 is adjusted. to travelo The motor for propelling this vehicle preferably an explosive' engine, and, as

shown, this engine is of the two-cylinder horizontally opposed type. rlhe said engine i. which is indicated as an entirety by the u ineral 28, has its cylinder casting rig tlv secured on the framework l with its crank shaft 28a extending transversely of the tractor. Also, the said engine is located as closely as practicable to the axis of the traction' wheel 2. The engine crank shalt 2f (see 'particularly Fig. 7) and also other views, carries a fly wheel 28 'that has a cont cal clutch flange 29. 'lhe clutch Flange Q9 is adapted to be rictionally engaged, at will,

by a conical clutch wheel or member 30 secured to the inner end of a transverse shalt 3l tliat'is axially alined with the engine crank shaft 289 and is adapted to be coupled to the said engine crank shaft, at will, i'or rotation therewith. This shaft 3l is journalcd in suitable bearings 32 and 33 on the engine frame l, and is capable of a slight endwise movement, as well as a rotary nieve which the said'shaft is free to rotate.

ment. It carries a small spur pinion 34 that meshes with a larger spur gear 35, which latter is secured to a counter shaft 36, jour--v naled in suitable bearings 37 and 38 on the 'frame l.

,2 for rotation therewith.

lengine whenever the clutch elements 29 and 30 are engaged. For moving the shaft 31 lendwise to effect the engagement and disengagement of the clutch members, at will,

a shipper lever 41 is intermediately pivoted, as shown, to the bearing`33, and at its forwardly extended end, is pivotally connected to a sleeve 42 that is secured for endwise movements with the said shaft 31 butr in he inwardly extended end of this lever 41 is connected by a link 43 to a clutch operated lever 44, pivoted to 'the rear portion of the frame 1 and within reach from the seat 22. This lever 44 is arranged to be yieldingly held in either of two positions, to-wit, either in a position to hold the clutch members 29 and 30 engaged, or to separate them, means of a coupled tension spring 45 a'ttached at its upper end to the said lever and anchored at its lower end to the frame 1, (see particularly Figs. 1 and 4).

also provide a simple and eflicient rever-sing device in the power transmission mechanism, which reversing device is best shown in Figs. 1, 3, 6 and 7. As a feature of this mechanism, the left hand bearing 37,

in which, as already noted, theleft hand end of the shaft 36 is journaled, is mounted for ysliding movements .on the frame 1, being free for forward and rearward movements,

4but securely held in position by 'means of keeper lugs 46 on the said maln frame. This sliding bearing 37 has an inwardly projecting lug47 through which works the headed end of a thrust rod 48'. The said lug 47 has a limited movement between the headed front end of said rod and nuts 48 adjustably secured on said rod. The rear end of the rod 48A is attached to a gear carrier in the form ,of a lever 49that is pivoted to the frame 1 -at 50, and carries a loose intermediate reversing gear 5 1. The free end of the lever 49 is connected by a short link 52 to the upper end'of an intermediate le- 1 ver 53 that is intermediately pivoted to the frame 1. The lower end of this lever 53 is connected oy a rod or link 54 to the lower 4end of a latch leverv 55 that is pivoted to the frame 1 and is adapted to be locked in either of two .different positions to the lockl segment 56 secured on the frame 1. Normally, the lever will be moved farther rearward than shown in Fig. 1 and the lever 47, and further forward movement of the I said lever will force the bearing 37 forward and'thereby first disengage the gear 35 from the pinion 34, and subsequently, engage the reversing gear 51 both with the pinion 34 and the said gear This reversing gear then acts as an intermediate gear to reverse the rotation of the shaft 36, and consequently, of, the traction wheel. Under forward movement of the lever 55,A the reversing gear, 51 is first disengaged from the pinion 34 and the gear 36, and thereafter the said gear 36 is re'e'ngaged with the pinion 34. These movements prevent stripping of-teeth ofthe gears and pinions.

The upper portion of the traction wheel is preferably 'covered by a sheet metal hood 57.

The numeral 58 indicates a radiator or water cooler carried on the forward portion of the frame 1 and connected to the water iacket of the engine in the usual or any suitable way, through circulating pipes 59.

The numeral 60 indicates an exhaustmuff The numeral 64 indicates a 'tool boX which, as shown, is supported on the inner side of the hood 57.

I, While it is possible to designvthis improved tractor in various sizes, still itis especially adapted for use as a small tractor. I have designed and put into use tractors such as illustrated in the drawings, adapted to do lthe vwork of five or siX horses and to draw two or three plows, and this seems to be the size and power of tractor for which there is the greatest present demand. The.A

wonderful simplicity of the improved tractor built in the size stated, is emphasized by lthe fact that I have `arranged to put such tractors on the market at a retail selling price of approximately three hundred dollars each.

The framework of the tractor may be very cheaply and 'rigidly constructed liao mercial rolled steel. The fewest possible number of truck wheels are employed and two of these are comparatively small, While the other, which is relatively large, is used as the traction wheel. rl`he transmission mechanism between the engine and traction wheel, for forward drive, involves only two shafts, tour gears, and a single friction clutch. For a reverse drive of the gear, the

plete tractor to be very heavy, in proportion.

`to its pulling'power. The front guide wheel and offset rear wheel o f the tractor carry comparatively small parts of the load, 'and hence, may be made small and comparatively light.

ln running over the road or in thel field, the tractor may be very easily controlled by manipulation of the guide wheel 13, whichl wheel then simply acts as a steering wheel and not as an automatic guide wheel, and hence, is manipulated through the steering rod 20. At such times, as already indicated, the offset side wheel 5 should be lowered, as

shown in Figs. l and el, so that the bottomsV of the two wheels 2 and 5 are on a level. lWhen the traction wheel 2 and guide wheel 18 are running ina furrow, the side wheel 5 should be adjusted into a relatively high positiom'as shown in Fig. 5. The guide wheel 18 is preferably made much narrower than the traction wheel 2, and consequently, much narrower than the furrow in which the traction wheel is adapted to run. This guide wheel should be set to hug the land side of the furrow. y

The numeral G5 indicates a draw bar which is attached to the front portion of the main frame l and inclines rearwardly, and at its rear end is directly supported by a head 66 secured for lateral adjustments ona horizontal perforated bar 67, which, in turn, is secured for vertical adjustments on perforated bars 68, the'upper ends of which are rigidly secured to the -rear portion ofthe main frame l. The rear end of said draw bar G5 is preferably in the form of van I to which connections for drawing plows, or

any other implement or vehicle, may be read.

ily attached. By the properadjustlnents of the head (36, the draw bar may be so adjusted that it will give exactly the desired draft on the tractor. lt is of importance to note that the draw bar is located inward of the large traction wheel, that is between the said traction wheel and the off-set side wheel so .that the line of draft strain acting'through the mach-ine is to be used for plowing,

Vbe adjusted to travel upon the unplov .single large rear traction wheel, an idle set side wheel, capable of being raised and lowered, and a relatively small front guide wheel, the latter' being located in front of said traction wheel and being adjustable to "e vary its angle in respect to the line of travel, and with the parts arranged to throw the greater portion of the weight of the traJ on said single traction wheel, whereby, when 'lic 'f y idle wheel may be adjusted to travel on unplowed ground while the traction wh and guide wheel travel at a lower level in the same previously formed furrow.

2. A three-wheeled tractor having a l?. rear traction wheel, an idle offset side whe capable of=being raised and lowered, Y. relatively small front guide wheel loca in front of said rear traction wheel, with parts arranged to throw the greater 'the'weight of the tractor on the said sin traction wheel, whereby when the mach is to be used for plowing the idle wheel ground while the traction wheel and gui-fie wheel travel at a lower level in the sa .ie previously formed furrow and the tractor is automatically guided by the engagement said guide wheel with the furrow.

3. A three-wheeled tractor having a single large rear traction wheel, an idle ofsetrear side wheel capable of being raised and lo ered, a relatively small front guide wh located in front of said traction wheel, a draft connection applied. to said trac and'exerting a line of strain that is inwi of said traction wheel and guide wheel.

fl. A tractor' having, in combination, single traction wheel located at one side the tractor frame, a pivoted guide wh located at the forward part of the trac frame in line with said traction wheel, lower surfaces of said traction wheel and said guide wheel being arranged at subst; tially the same level, an idle oifset sie. wheel, means for raising and lowering s idle wheel, and a suitable motor arranged upon the tractor frame and connected with said traction wheel, whereby when the traf'.- tor is to be used for plowing, the idle wheel 1i f2 may be set to travel on the unplowed ground while the traction wheel and guide wheel tra-vel at a lower level in the same pre viously formed furrow. l

A threewheeled tractor having a single traction wheel, a pivoted guide wheel arranged in front of said traction wheel and in line therewith, the lower surfaces of sii"l traction wheel and said guide wheel be arranged at substantially the same level, ai.,

oil'set idle side Wheel, and means for raising and lowering said side wheel, whereby when the machine is to be used' for-'plowing said idle wheel may be adjusted to `travel upon the unplowed ground while the traction wheel and guide wheel travel at a lower level in the same previously formed furrow.

6. A tractor having, in combination, a single large rear traction wheel, an idle olii'- set side wheel capable of being raised and lowered', a relatively small front guide wheel located in front of said traction wheel and being adjustable to vary its angle in respect to the line of travel, and means for locking -5 said guide wheel in the position at which it isset, and with the-parts arranged totravel on the'unplowed ground while the lower level in the'same previously formed furrow. D

In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

vtraction wheel and guide wheel travel` at a 

